Bounded by Secrets

"A Fragile Return"?

At 3 a.m., Mayumi sat on her bed, her mind still clouded from a restless, tear-filled night. The silence of the early morning wrapped around her like a heavy blanket, weighing her down. She opened her laptop, mostly out of habit, and her inbox blinked with two unread messages.

The first was from the SIO - the international organization she had once dreamed of joining and had worked so hard to earn her place in. She clicked on it, her heart pounding.

"Dear Ms. Mayumi,
We regret to inform you that due to your recent blacklisting, your position within SIO has been terminated effective immediately. You will no longer be recognized as a part of this organization."

She let out a dry laugh, though there was no humor in it, just a sharp, bitter disbelief. Her dreams were slipping through her fingers, and the world she had worked tirelessly to belong to was closing its doors on her, one by one.

But as she scrolled down, she noticed the second email - this one from Ren. Her breath caught, and she hesitated, her finger hovering over the mouse before she opened it.

"Mayumi,
Since you are no longer a part of this headquarters, you are required to clear your room within the next two weeks. I trust that you understand the importance of maintaining order and respect for our shared spaces."

She read the message over and over, each word sinking deeper into her chest, weighing her down. After everything they'd been through, after the mission and the silent support Ren had always offered, this message was cold and final, as if she'd been nothing more than an easily replaceable part of the machine.

For a moment, she stared blankly at the screen, her lips curling into a broken smile. She let out a soft, shaky laugh, half-sobbing as she closed her laptop. She fell back onto her bed, clutching her pillow as the laugh quickly dissolved into tears.

With her face buried in the pillow, she whispered into the darkness, "Is this... all I'm worth?"

---

Two months had passed, and Kaki was now a trainer at Ren's headquarters. Despite his new responsibilities, he frequently visited different bars around the city. One night, while in a slum area buying weapons, he stopped by a popular bar and spotted a girl who bore an uncanny resemblance to his younger sister, Mayumi. The resemblance startled him, and as he stared, the girl locked eyes with him, then turned and bolted.

Kaki immediately gave chase, leaping over walls and dodging vehicles as he pursued her through the crowded streets. Eventually, the girl twisted her ankle, collapsing onto the ground with her back against a wall. Kaki caught up, kneeling beside her as she winced in pain. Gently, he pulled back her jacket collar, searching for the birthmark he knew Mayumi had. The sight of it confirmed his suspicion-this was Mayumi.

As he released her jacket, she glanced away, clearly reluctant to face him. Kaki broke the silence. "Why are you here, Mayumi?"

She hesitated, then admitted softly, "I tried to end my life after leaving the headquarters. An old lady found me and took me to a therapist. I've been living here with the therapist's wife since then."

Kaki's expression softened. "Everyone misses you at headquarters, Mayumi. Please... come back."

She shook her head. "I can't. What would they say?"

"They won't say anything, I promise."

"Why wouldn't they?" she replied bitterly. "I'm useless to them. I gave up fighting long ago." She pulled out a small Christian cross from around her neck. "I can't even do missions anymore."

Kaki sighed, determined to make her understand. "Do you know Mr. Oliver still keeps your office room at SIO vacant, waiting for your return? Mr. Ren lists your name on every mission roster, hoping you'll be back. Izumi pays the rent on your room just so no one else can touch it. And Midori? She's kept that football you two got signed by the famous player-so that when you return, you two can fight over it again. And your parents... they regret every day that they didn't stop you from leaving. Doesn't any of that matter to you, Mayumi?"